Numeral study puzzle

ABSTRACT

A picture puzzle having a playing board provided with a recessed area and puzzle pieces for placement in said recessed area to form a complete picture, said puzzle pieces having a numeral appearing thereon and the periphery of some of the pieces coincide with the form of the numeral along edges thereof facing the edges of the recessed area in the playing board. The numerals on other pieces define features of the creature or object depicted in the picture. The shapes of the pieces are not as irregular as the shapes of the numerals disposed on the pieces.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert J. Biederer 507 North Wisner, Park Ridge, 111. 61068 [21] Appl. No 853,732 [22] Filed Aug. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 9,1971

[54] NUMERAL STUDY PUZZLE 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/157 R, 35/32, 35/73 [51] int.Cl A63i9/10, 00% 19/02 [50] Field of Search 273/157; 35/31 G, 35], 70, 71, 31 F,32, 35 1-1, 73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,100 2/1918 Bamberg 273/157 2,265,699 12/1941 Osborne 35/31 G 3,365,198 1/1968 Hay 35/71 X FOREIGN PATENTS 273,720 3/1964 Australia 1, 273/157 407,185 3/1934 Great Britain 273/157 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Donald J. Koprowski ABSTRACT: A picture puzzle having a playing board provided with a recessed area and puzzle pieces for placement in said recessed area to form a complete picture, said puzzle pieces having a numeral appearing thereon and the periphery of some of the pieces coincide with the form of the numeral along edges thereof facing the edges of the recessed area in the playing board The numerals on other pieces define features of the creature or object depicted in the picture. The shapes of the pieces are not as irregular as the shapes of the numerals disposed on the pieces PATENTEDunv '9 I9?! 3,618,956

FIGQ

a COUNT OINK tnventor Robert J. Biederer Attorney NUMERAL STUDY PUZZLE The present invention relates to an educational device which will provide exercises in the identification of numerals as well as amusement, and particularly a puzzle for use in the study of numerals.

It is an object of this invention to provide a puzzle which is compact and inexpensive to manufacture.

The puzzle includes a panel or playing board having a recessed area having edges conforming to the outline of the body of a common object or creature. This recessed area receives a series of separate puzzle pieces of irregular peripheral contour which when arranged in the recessed area in a predetermined manner combine to form a picture of the object or creature defined by said edges of the recessed area. A majority of said puzzle pieces bear the design of a numeral and the peripheral portion of such puzzle pieces coincide with the form of the numeral design associated therewith and also match the edges of the recessed area facing said puzzle piece when the latter is in its proper position.

ther objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for the purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions ofa particular use.

The invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa picture puzzle made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the puzzle as shown in FIG. 1 with the puzzle pieces removed from the recess.

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the puzzle pieces.

As shown in FIG. 1, the puzzle includes a panel or playing board of wood, plastic or any other suitable composition and reference numeral 11 designates the edge portion of a recessed area 12 provided in the front face of the panel 10. While the edge portion of the recess 12 may be varied to conform to the outline of an object or creature selected for application to the panel 10, the drawings herein illustrate a recess 12 in the shape of a pig for the purpose of presenting one embodiment of the present invention.

The physical characteristics of a pig, such as the head, feet, tail, and the like, in combination with a body having a contour matching that of the recess 12 are contained in a picture which is collectively defined by puzzle pieces 13, 14, 15, 16,

17, 18, and 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The peripheral surfaces of puzzle piece 13 and the edge of the recess with which the piece 13 has matching fit follows the outline of a numeral 6 which appears on the face of piece 13. The peripheral surfaces of puzzle piece 14 and the edge of the recess 12 with which the piece 14 has interfitting relation follow the outline of a numeral 3 appearing on the face of piece 14. The peripheral surface of puzzle piece 15 and the edge of recess 12 in the panel 10 with which the piece 15 has matching fit follow the outline of a numeral 9 appearing on the face of piece 15. These puzzle pieces 13, 14 and 15 and a fourth puzzle piece 16 bearing the numeral 1, form the head and body of the pig while puzzle pieces 17, 18 and 19 and respectively bearing numerals 7, 4 and 2, form the ears and tail of the pig. Puzzle piece 20 which occupies a position between the puzzle pieces 17 and 18 is embellished with the numeral 8 in a reclining bowknotlike arrangement with lines leading therefrom beyond the confines of the recess 12 so as to simulate streamers accentuating the bowknot effect. Puzzle piece 2] bearing the numeral 5 occupies a cut out portion in puzzle piece 15.

While the puzzle pieces as shown in FIG. 1 meet along straight lines as indicated by the dotted lines 22 in FIG. 3) it will, of course, be understood that the profile of these pieces may be varied so as to meet along irregular or curved lines, if desired.

It will be manifest that the task of placing the numeral bearing puzzle pieces within the picture area of the panel 10 so as to form a complete picture matching the outline of the recess 12 involves a game that offers a child valuable experience in the recognition of numerals as well as a systematic instruction in counting. In addition the puzzle adds amusement to the task of learning to count.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. Various other forms of creatures and objects made up of numeral bearing puzzle pieces in a wide range of shapes and sizes represent different modifications and embodiments of the present invention. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claim when viewed in the proper perspective thereof against the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A puzzle for use in the study of numerals, said puzzle including a panel, a recess in the front face of said panel having its peripheral limits conforming to the outline of the body of an object or creature, a series of puzzle pieces of irregular peripheral contour which when arranged in said recess in a predetermined manner combine to form a picture of the object or creature outlined by said peripheral limits of said recess, each of said pieces bearing the design of a numeral, said numerals comprising the numerals said peripheral contour of each said pieces being of a very simple shape as compared to the shape of said numeral, said numerals as a group forming features of said object or creature and defining the contour thereof. 

1. A puzzle for use in the study of numerals, said puzzle including a panel, a recess in the front face of said panel having its peripheral limits conforming to the outline of the body of an object or creature, a series of puzzle pieces of irregular peripheral contour which when arranged in said recess in a predetermined manner combine to form a picture of the object or creature outlined by said peripheral limits of said recess, each of said pieces bearing the design of a numeral, said numerals comprising the numerals said peripheral contour of each said pieces being of a very simple shape as compared to the shape of said numeral, said numerals as a group forming features of said object or creature and defining the contour thereof. 